Mar 4, 2005

Pike Cichlids are a group of South American fishes of the genus Crenicichla. They inhabit the freshwater streams, rivers and pools of most of the Amazonian rivers, but there are many species all the way down to coastal regions of central Argentina and Uruguay. Crenicichla or Pike cichlids as their name implies, are mostly predatory, consuming small fish for prey. Most of them have an elongated body and a wide, protrusible mouth - features common to many predatory fish.

Pikes are cave-spawners, laying their adhesive eggs somewhere where it would be difficult for you to see. The female is responsible for the care of eggs and the male guards the immediate region against intruders. The eggs hatch in about 3-4 days and the fry are free-swimming in another 3-4 days, depending on the temperature.

Mar 2, 2005

The males of this cichlid have a huge clear liquid filled 'hump' on their forehead that starts at the top of the head at the beginning of the dorsal fin and continues down to the upper lip. The shape of this 'hump' gives them a very square and large looking head. They also shimmer with dazzling iridescent colored speckles on their sides ranging from green to blue. These beautiful speckles could also be seen in their ventral and anal fins. The male has a long extension on his dorsal fin as seen in most cichlid species. Both sexes have also the vertical bars. The females are a bit smaller than the males and lack hump. Los machos de este cíclido poseen una protuberancia llena de líquido en su frente, la cual comienza en la parte superior de la cabeza al comienzo de la aleta dorsal y continúa hasta el labio superior dándoles una forma casi cuadrada. Sus escamas brillan con colores iridescentes que varían del verde al azul. Dichas iridiscencias pueden también verse en la aleta dorsal y anal. Otro aspecto característico de los machos es una larga extensión en ambos extremos de la cola como ocurre en muchos cíclidos. Ambos sexos poseen barras verticales. Las hembras a su vez son más pequeñas y carecen de la joroba. (Río Uruguay - Salto)

Why bilingual? For starters, Spanish is my native tongue. Secondly, English is still the universal language and the blog is meant to be accessible for anyone on the globe who is into Nature conservancy; particularly in getting to know Uruguay's flora and fauna.

"Hunting is merely a cowardly circumlocution for the cowardy murder of fellow creatures who do not have a chance. Hunting is a variant of human mental illness" Theodore Heuss (First president of the Republic of Germany; 1884-1963)

"When I was twelve, I went hunting with my father and we shot a bird. He was laying there and something struck me. Why do we call this fun to kill this creature who was as happy as I was when I woke up this morning?" (American and Canadian football coach, 1925-)

"May I walk unceasingly on the banks of my river, may my soul repose on the branches of the trees which I planted, and may I may refresh myself under the shadow of my sycamore tree".Egyptian tomb inscription, circa 1400 AD

"We must protect the forests for our children, grandchildren and children yet to be born. We must protect the forests for those who can't speak for themselves such as the birds, other animals and the trees."Chief Edward Moody, Qwatsinas, Nuxalk Nation

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if promontory were... Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls: it tolls for thee".John Donne, English Metaphysical poet (1572 - 1631)